Our View: America's Constitution formed a great and enduring government

Almost all Americans know the anniversary of the signing of our nation’s Declaration of Independence is July 4. A much smaller number knows the U.S. Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787, and that is too bad. Sept. 17 is an anniversary worthy of its own celebration.

As a newspaper, we highly value the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The latter document, ratified in 1791, includes the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, which guaranteed freedoms precious to Americans, including Freedom of the Press.

It is nice to see Constitution Day remembered and recognized in America. A notable example in Lubbock this week involves actor Mark Collins, who portrayed George Washington in the 13-episode series “The Revolution” on the History Channel. Collins is giving Constitution Week performances as Washington, who served as the president of the Constitutional Convention, for students of seven Lubbock Independent School District campuses Thursday and today.

Like many things that went on to become great, the birth of the Constitution had an inauspicious beginning. Delegations from only two states were present at Independence Hall, then called the Pennsylvania State House, in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, at the initial convening to revise the Articles of Confederation.

It was not until May 25 a quorum of seven state delegations was present. The first order of business was the unanimous election of Washington as the president of the convention.

According to information from the National Archives, the delegates determined during the next month they needed more than just amending the Articles of Confederation. They needed to create a new basis of government

What was to become the Constitution was drafted and redrafted through the summer. The delegates debated, argued, compromised and cooperated to produce a strong and enduring foundation of government.

After the Constitution was completed, many of the delegates and state ratifying conventions requested a protection of rights for citizens to be amended to the Constitution, and that led to the Bill of Rights.

The framers of the Constitution were people of diverse interests and opinions, but they worked together to produce something great. That should provide inspiration to some of today’s political leaders, who often don’t work well together.

James Madison, a 36-year-old Virginia delegate at the Constitutional Convention, wrote to Thomas Jefferson about the difficulties of bringing together the clashing interests in Philadelphia.

“(It was) a task more difficult than can be well-conceived by those who were not concerned in the execution of it,” he wrote.

The delegates of the Constitutional Convention knew their forging of a government was not about their own interests or those of any one state.

To be successful, they had to work together to serve the interests of the states and of the nation as a whole.

Their cooperation brought about an accomplishment that has resonated for centuries. It should provide a perpetual example to Americans of what can be done when the sincere goal is the common good.

At-a-glance

■ Our position: The creation of the U.S. Constitution was a remarkable achievement that led to a strong and great nation. The Constitution wasn’t produced by framers of similar priorities and interests, but by a diverse group of individuals who worked together to produce a government that would be best for all citizens. Late in his life, James Madison wrote no government is perfect, but the government that is the least imperfect is the best government. That is what the delegates created in Philidelphia.

■ Why you should care: The success of the framers of the Constitution made modern life in America possible.

■ For more information: Log on to our website, www.lubbockonline.com, and enter the words “Constitution Day ” in the search box.

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".....James Madison wrote no government is perfect, but the government that is the least imperfect is the best government."

It is a truism that as a system grows in size and complexity the incidence of "imperfections", i.e. unintended consequences, mistakes, outliers, etc. grows in direct proportion. A smaller Federal government, with more of its present-day functions delegated to the State level. is one which would be less "imperfect", or to paraphrase Mr. Madison, a better government. There is a strong case to be made for the theory of subsidiarity.